#5 McClintock BBB avenges loss to #10 Horizon

February 2, 2022 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Horizon's Croix Sweeney (10) tests McClintock's PJ Volz (24) in the first half of McClintock's 74-53 victory. (Azpreps365 photo)

Five days ago McClintock lost sole possession of first place in its region thanks to an overtime loss to Horizon. The Chargers rebounded with a vengeance Wednesday to nab its region lead alone again.

Led by the triumvirate of seniors Jaylen Wesley and PJ Volz and junior EJ Scroggins, the Chargers led from start to finish in a 74-53 romp of Horizon at Doc Zinke Gym.

#5 McClintock posted its 20th win of the season against 3 losses. It now leads #10 Horizon in the 5A Northeast Valley Region by one game with two to play. The Chargers are 7-1 in region while Horizon is 15-8 overall, 6-2 in region.

Wesley, Volz and Scroggins combined for 64 points with Wesley connecting for 33, Volz adding 21 and Scroggins chipping in 10. A modest 20-15 lead after the first period ballooned to 44-24 at halftime. After three periods McClintock held a 31-point advantage reducing the fourth quarter to a running clock by rule since the quarter began with a 30-point difference or more.

Wesley, who averages 26 points a game for the season, scored from all over with efficiency. He made 5 of 9 threes, 6 of 8 twos plus 6 of 7 free throws. Wesley's offense took off in the second quarter when McClintock broke the game open as he netted 14 of 19 first-half points in that quarter. Volz made 8 of 10 shots - 6 of 6 twos and 2 of 4 threes. His output was slightly better than his season average of 17.

Croix Sweeney led Horizon with 20 points and Alex Goldberg added 12 points off the bench. The Huskies had four players score in double figures in last week's win over the Chargers.

McClintock finishes the regular season at Cactus Shadows on Friday and then a home game Tuesday Feb. 8 vs. Arcadia. Horizon visits Desert Mountain on Friday and hosts Cactus Shadows Feb. 8.